R.I.P. WERA Racer Steve Green (Updated)

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WERA racer Steven "Steve" Alan Green died January 31, 2014.

Green, an automobile painter who lived in Knoxville, Tennessee, was well known in the WERA racing circles. As a top sprint racer in the early part of the 1990s, Green mentored Chris "Opie" Caylor, who went on to become a top professional racer in WERA and AMA Pro Racing.

"Steve was the sole person responsible for getting me on the racetrack," Caylor told Roadracingworld.com Monday. "He helped me get my first racebike together and he took me to my first school. Everything I have ever accomplished in racing I owe it to Steve Green taking me to Talladega [Gran Prix Raceway] that day."

Green dropped out of racing for several years and rejoined the sport as a Novice racer in 2003. That's when he met beginner JB Layman.

"I was just starting out and I tagged along behind him in one race," Layman told Roadracingworld.com. "He couldn't shake me, and after the race we got to talking and we've been good friends ever since. He started giving me tips and mentoring me, and Steve taught was what it took to go endurance racing."

JB Layman, his brother Scott and Green formed Team Zyvax, which raced in the WERA National Endurance series for several years. With Green co-riding, Team Zyvax won the 2008 and 2009 Mediumweight Superbike class Championships in the series.

According to JB Layman, Green died suddenly due to complications from lung cancer. He was 48.